Council Joint Action 2007/468/CFSP of 28 June 2007 on support for activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in order to strengthen its monitoring and verification capabilities and in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

1 For the purposes of immediate and practical implementation of certain elements of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the European Union shall support the activities of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in order to further the following objectives: (a) strengthening the capabilities of the CTBTO monitoring and verification system, including in the field of radio-nuclide detection; (b) enhancing the operational performance of the CTBTO monitoring and verification system, including through testing and validation of on-site inspection modalities.

2 The projects to be supported by the European Union shall have the following specific objectives: (a) to provide support for the development of capacity in the area of noble gas monitoring and verification; (b) to provide support for the preparation, conduct and evaluation of the Integrated Field Exercise 2008 in the area of on-site inspections (IFE08/OSI). The projects shall be carried out for the benefit of all States Signatories to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. A detailed description of the projects is set out in the Annex.

1 The Presidency, assisted by the Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (SG/HR), shall be responsible for the implementation of this Joint Action. The Commission shall be fully associated.

2 The projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be carried out by the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. It shall perform this task under the control of the SG/HR, assisting the Presidency. For this purpose, the SG/HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO.

3 The Presidency, the SG/HR and the Commission shall keep each other regularly informed about the projects, in conformity with their respective competences.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1670000.

2 The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the European Community procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the European Communities with the exception that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For this purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, which shall take the form of a grant. The financing agreement shall stipulate that the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO is to ensure visibility of the EU contribution, appropriate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Joint Action. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

The Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Joint Action on the basis of regular reports prepared by the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. These reports shall form the basis for the evaluation by the Council. The Commission shall be fully associated. It shall provide information on the financial aspects of the implementation of this Joint Action.

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. It shall expire: (a) 15 months after the conclusion of the financing agreement between the Commission and the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, or (b) 12 months after the date of its adoption if no financing agreement has been concluded within that period.

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.